DirecTV dropping locals in parts of Nebraska?

Jon Ellis · 12-04-09, 10:21 PM

Anybody know what this is about?

http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=11610314

The TV story says DirecTV is switching customers in six counties from Lincoln-Hastings-Kearney channels to New York. Have the counties been moved into the New York market, or what? I can't figure out why DirecTV would make the change otherwise.

(A number of other Nebraska counties are in the Denver market due to viewership on satellite dating back to the BUD days.)

litzdog911 · 12-05-09, 12:25 AM

Probably relates to DMA re-alignments that DirecTV and other providers must perform every three years. Here's a statement from DirecTV ....

Please note the following changes occurring Wednesday, November 18th.
DMA Realignment – FCC Guidelines require that every three years we make sure our local market boundaries match up with Nielsen Media Research, Inc. This year DIRECTV must realign zip codes that are not compliant with Nielsen data. DIRECTV has no input in defining the Nielsen boundaries but must adhere to them. In general, Nielsen uses county boundaries to define market boundaries. Since each designated market area (DMA) is made up of a set of counties, the customer’s county will generally determine which local channels DIRECTV can deliver.

texasbrit · 12-05-09, 06:42 AM

No, it's not a Nielsen/DMA issue. SD Locals in the Lincoln DMA have been delivered from the 72.5 satellite where are all the transponders are CONUS so everyone in the DMA could receive them. When Lincoln got HD locals there were some western counties that were outside the HD spotbeam and so could not get HD locals, if you went to the DirecTv web site and entered the zip it said you could get SD locals and not HD. Now DirecTV has closed down the SD locals for Lincoln from 72.5 it means that people in these western counties can't get locals at all. Hence giving them the DNS channels.

litzdog911 · 12-05-09, 09:19 AM

Good catch. Thanks texasbrit.

adam1115 · 12-05-09, 10:36 AM

Woa, taking AWAY LIL? I hope DirecTV waives the early termination fee for these people.

I bet many of them signed up BECAUSE LIL was available.

litzdog911 · 12-05-09, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam1115

Woa, taking AWAY LIL? I hope DirecTV waives the early termination fee for these people.

I bet many of them signed up BECAUSE LIL was available.

That's why they're getting the Distant Network Service channels instead. Some folks will consider that an advantage compared to their own local channels.

adam1115 · 12-05-09, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litzdog911

That's why they're getting the Distant Network Service channels instead. Some folks will consider that an advantage compared to their own local channels.

That might not be an acceptable substitute for others who want their local news and emergency weather coverage.

joshjr · 12-05-09, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam1115

That might not be an acceptable substitute for others who want their local news and emergency weather coverage.

Its a really good feat for getting out of market pro sports games.

TheRatPatrol · 12-05-09, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texasbrit

When Lincoln got HD locals there were some western counties that were outside the HD spotbeam and so could not get HD locals

Wow, can't D* readjust the beam or move them to a different beam?

RobertE · 12-05-09, 01:26 PM

It's possible that after a sucessfull launch of D12, that DMA may be moved over to SW1/2. Since SW1/2 are extremely configurable, the spots could be adjusted to cover those that lost LIL. This is just speculation though.

HoTat2 · 12-05-09, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertE

It's possible that after a sucessfull launch of D12, that DMA may be moved over to SW1/2. Since SW1/2 are extremely configurable, the spots could be adjusted to cover those that lost LIL. This is just speculation though.

And even then if DirecTV would supply a larger configured spotbeam from the Spaceways to serve the Lincoln Neb. DMA and cover these western counties, I wonder how many residents there have Ka band MPEG-4 equipment considering that only National HD programming is available to those who do?

adam1115 · 12-05-09, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshjr

Its a really good feat for getting out of market pro sports games.

Sure, as long as you don't care about any local or regional teams.

I bet many do, and DirecTV should have to let them out of their contract should they desire since getting local channels might have driven their decision to sign up for DrecTV.

If it's a 'great thing' and they are happy, it isn't an issue, right?

I know I wouldn't sign up for DirecTV without LIL...

WestDC · 12-05-09, 04:12 PM

DAMN! those BASS TURD"S

paulh · 12-05-09, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoTat2

And even then if DirecTV would supply a larger configured spotbeam from the Spaceways to serve the Lincoln Neb. DMA and cover these western counties, I wonder how many residents there have Ka band MPEG-4 equipment considering that only National HD programming is available to those who do?

how did that legally work when Dish had some "minor" locals on 62.5? Legally, anyone could request a free upgrade (to their 62.5 which included their HD), then eventually splitting was illegal so all locals had to be on the same sat?

Of course, D* has been converting many 72.5 markets to MPEG4 (HD and/or R2) equipment.

sigma1914 · 12-05-09, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam1115

Sure, as long as you don't care about any local or regional teams.

I bet many do, and DirecTV should have to let them out of their contract should they desire since getting local channels might have driven their decision to sign up for DrecTV.

If it's a 'great thing' and they are happy, it isn't an issue, right?

I know I wouldn't sign up for DirecTV without LIL...

What regional or local pro teams are in Nebraska? None.

adam1115 · 12-05-09, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigma1914

What regional or local pro teams are in Nebraska? None.

Many people in western Nebraska follow the Broncos.

But I'm pretty sure Huskers games among others are broadcast on local channels.

Terry K · 12-05-09, 06:18 PM

This isn't anything new. If you live in Scottsbluff or in the Mountain Time areas of Nebraska, you WILL be forced to either Denver locals, or DNS service. And having watched the Lincoln & Scottsbluff locals, NYC or Denver is a major improvement!

In the case of KWNB, they're stupid enough to be on RF6 which NO ONE can get (and I'm serious no one) they deserve to lose their viewers.

I, for one, do not want my locals since they have no regard for the viewer (like shoving multicast CRAP down my throat like the CW), nor will I reward them for bad behaviour by giving any part of my subscription fee.

And those 6 counties suddenly become nice move-bait.

Terry K · 12-05-09, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoTat2

And even then if DirecTV would supply a larger configured spotbeam from the Spaceways to serve the Lincoln Neb. DMA and cover these western counties, I wonder how many residents there have Ka band MPEG-4 equipment considering that only National HD programming is available to those who do?

Actually, everyone in the Lincoln DMA has to have that equipment. Lincoln is now MPEG-4 only for locals. Directv quite likely gave them the equipment.

Terry K · 12-05-09, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Ellis

Anybody know what this is about?

http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=11610314

The TV story says DirecTV is switching customers in six counties from Lincoln-Hastings-Kearney channels to New York. Have the counties been moved into the New York market, or what? I can't figure out why DirecTV would make the change otherwise.

(A number of other Nebraska counties are in the Denver market due to viewership on satellite dating back to the BUD days.)

And not to mention those counties are in the Mountain Time Zone. Other than Scotts Bluff and I think Morrill counties, if its in Mountain Time, its in the Denver market.

HoTat2 · 12-06-09, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry K

Actually, everyone in the Lincoln DMA has to have that equipment. Lincoln is now MPEG-4 only for locals. Directv quite likely gave them the equipment.

I was referring to the six western counties that are the subject of the article which fall outside the local Ka band spotbeam for the Lincoln DMA since it went MPEG-4 only for LiLs.

I thought residents in those counties would still need to receive SD locals from 72.5 and have no reason to convert to MPEG-4 equipment unless they only wanted national HD programming.

texasbrit · 12-06-09, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoTat2

I was referring to the six western counties that are the subject of the article which fall outside the local Ka band spotbeam for the Lincoln DMA since it went MPEG-4 only for LiLs.

I thought residents in those counties would still need to receive SD locals from 72.5 and have no reason to convert to MPEG-4 equipment unless they only wanted national HD programming.

No, the SD locals from 72.5 for the Lincoln DMA are about to go away. On December 9th they will be switched off.

HoTat2 · 12-06-09, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texasbrit

No, the SD locals from 72.5 for the Lincoln DMA are about to go away. On December 9th they will be switched off.

Yeah thanks texasbrit;

I'm aware of this, but to rephrase I guess what I'm was really questioning is how many SD only customers with MPEG-2 equipment are in those six western counties? Since I didn't see any need for a mandatory upgrade of them to MPEG-4 equipment for locals when the Lincoln DMA Ka-band LiL spotbeam went active as they fall outside the spotbeam's footprint anyway.

So hypothetically even if DirecTV were to say reassign the Lincoln DMA with a larger spotbeam from the one of the Spaceways to specially accommodate those additional counties sometime after D12 goes up, how many subscribers in those counties are equipped to receive it?

texasbrit · 12-06-09, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoTat2

Yeah thanks texasbrit;

I'm aware of this, but to rephrase I guess what I'm was really questioning is how many SD only customers with MPEG-2 equipment are in those six western counties? Since I didn't see any need for a mandatory upgrade of them to MPEG-4 equipment for locals when the Lincoln DMA Ka-band LiL spotbeam went active as they fall outside the spotbeam's footprint anyway.

So hypothetically even if DirecTV were to say reassign the Lincoln DMA with a larger spotbeam from the one of the Spaceways to specially accommodate those additional counties sometime after D12 goes up, how many subscribers in those counties are equipped to receive it?

They would need upgrading to get the DNS HD channels...so if they end up inside the spotbeam at some future date they will get the HD locals...but I have no idea how many DirecTV subscribers there are in these counties.

HoTat2 · 12-06-09, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texasbrit

They would need upgrading to get the DNS HD channels...so if they end up inside the spotbeam at some future date they will get the HD locals...but I have no idea how many DirecTV subscribers there are in these counties.

OK;

Since the DNS rules for HD reception differ somewhat from SD ones (and the differences are confusing to me at times) I didn't know if DirecTV was also permitting HD DNS for these counties as well...

joshjr · 12-06-09, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam1115

Sure, as long as you don't care about any local or regional teams.

I bet many do, and DirecTV should have to let them out of their contract should they desire since getting local channels might have driven their decision to sign up for DrecTV.

If it's a 'great thing' and they are happy, it isn't an issue, right?

I know I wouldn't sign up for DirecTV without LIL...

Thats where we differ. I did just that. I could not go another year watching the Chiefs and Rams NFL games. I signed up for Sunday Ticket and use DNS feeds as well as an antenna that gets all my DMA's channels anyways. Still a much better option then E* who has my locals. With E* I would get my locals, crappy football games and no out of market games from the DNS feeds I wouldnt get. Now I get my DMA's games, out of market pro games via DNS feeds, and Sunday Ticket. Cant beat that.